Preventing slips, trips, and falls in the workplace.

Slips, trips, and falls (STFs) are the number one cause of injuries in the workplace and happen in all types of work environments. According to federal OSHA, slips, trips, and falls cause 15 percent of all workplace deaths and are second only to motor vehicles as a cause of fatalities. STFs can result in head injuries, back injuries, broken bones, cuts and lacerations, sprained muscles, or even death. Because of the high rate of injuries and fatalities related to STF hazards, reducing these hazards is a priority of the MIOSHA Program. Incidents caused by STFs, like any other workplace injuries, can be anticipated and prevented. MIOSHA rules for both construction and general industry require employers to address the variety of STF hazards in their workplace. Utilizing a basic STF prevention program will help employers: n Understand how workplace accidents happen; n Identify the trouble areas; and n Eliminate and/or minimize the STF hazards. Slip/Trip/Fall Statistics In 2010, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicated STFs accounted for 24.5 percent of the total lost-workday injuries reported. Of that 24.5 percent, BLS reported slips and falls on the same level (including slips and trips that do not result in a fall) accounted for 74 percent of total lostworkday STFs, while falls from an elevation (including falls from heights and falls down stairs) accounted for 26 percent. In Michigan, 17.4 percent of all Workers’ Compensation cases were due to injuries sustained from falling or slipping on the job. There have been a significant number of fatal falls in Michigan in the last three years. In 2010, there were eight fatal falls and one slip/trip fatality in general industry and three fatal falls in construction. The numbers were reduced in 2011 to three in general industry and four in construction. To date in 2012 there was one in general industry and three in construction. (Details are in the sidebar.)